Feeding dispenser



Sept. 16, 1969 H. CYPHERT- 3,467,280

FEEDING DISPENSER Filed Oct. 50, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 32 I l m- "Wnk 3iFIG 4 INVENTOR.

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Sept. 16, 1969 H. CYPHERT- FEEDING DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct.30. 1967 INVENTOR. C yP/mkr United States Patent Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The feeder disclosed herein is intended to feed chemicalssuch as lime, into water or other liquid to be treated. The feederoperates on the principle that the end of the pan remote from thedischarge end is weighted heaviest. Thus, when the pan is empty, it willbe held by gravity in horizontal position. There is more pan volumecapacity on the side of the rocker shaft adjacent the discharge end.Thus, when the pan fills with water, it will overbalance the weightedend and dump the water from the pan. The water from the pan will rushinto engagement with the paddle which will open the feed valvemomentarily and feed a small amount of chemical into the water. When thepan is empty, the counterweight will swing it back to horizontalposition.

This invention relates to feeders and, more particularly, to feedingmechanisms for feeding dry materials into liquid.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improvedfeeding device.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a feeder that is simplein construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient touse.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeder that willintermittently feed small quantities of dry materials into liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeding mechanismincluding a trough that is counterweighted so that it will be in agenerally horizontal position when it is empty or partly full of liquidand so that it will be overbalanced when it is full of liquid and whenoverbalanced, it will discharge the liquid into engagement with anactuating member for a valve thereby opening the valve and feeding drymaterial into a liquid.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the feeder according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the trough for feeding;

FIG. 3 is .a partial view of the feeding mechanism showing the valve inopen position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the valve in closed position;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view taken from a different angle then FIG. 1.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the feeder shown hasrear legs and front legs 11 which are attached to and support the hopper12. The base 13 is fixed to the legs. The water pan 14 is supported on arocker axle 18 which is pivotally supported in the bearing members 27. Across brace 17 supports the Water pipe 15 which is supplied water by avalve 16. The valve 21 7 is hingedly connected to the hopper by means ofa hinge 3,467,280 Patented Sept. 16, 1969 'ice 20 .and the rod 26 isfixed to the valve 21 and a paddle 22 is fixed to the lower end thereof.The paddle 22' is received between the two spaced base members whichdefine a trough at the bottom of the feeder. The spring 19 urges thevalve to closed position and the spring is fixed to the rod 26 and tothe cross bar 25. The valve 21 is generally L-shaped as indicated and ithas .a horizontally disposed portion 29 which underlies the hopper.

It is indicated that the trough 14 has a front inclined discharge end 30and the opposite end is closed by a counterweight 31 which forms aclosure between the sides 32 of the trough. It will also be noted thatthe trough has a greater volume on the end remote from the counterweight31 and between the counterweight and axle 18 than adjacent counterweight31 and between it and axle 18.

In operation the counterweight 31 will move the trough down against thepedestal 34 which will support it in horizontal position. Then as liquidflows out of pipe 15, into the trough or pan 14, it will provide anever-increasing volume of water in the end of the trough next to the end30 until the trough is overbalanced on axle 18. The Weight of water willthen move the trough to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 1. Thewater in the trough will then rush down between the side member 13 intoengagement with the paddle 22. Water impinging on paddle 22 will move itand will swing the valve 21 to the position shown in FIG. 3. This willallow a small,

amount of chemical to be fed out of the hopper 12 through the openingpost valve 21 and the chemical will fall down into the water. When thewater is all run out of the trough 14, the trough and valve will moveback to their position shown in FIG. 1.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modificationwithin a range of equivalents without departing from the invention whichis to be understood is broadly novel.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A feeder comprising a hopper,

said hopper having an opening adjacent its lower part,

a feed valve,

said feed valve being hingedly connected to said hopper,

a rod attached to said feed valve,

paddle means attached to said rod,

spring means connected to said rod urging said feed valve to closedposition,

a pan,

rocker means supporting said pan below said hopper,

means to feed liquid to said pan,

said rocker means supporting said pan in such a manner that said panwill remain in upright position when it is empty, and will beoverbalanced and will rock to dumping position when a predeterminedamount of liquid is disposed in said pan,

and means to direct liquid from said pan into engagement with saidpaddle when said pan is dumped whereby said paddle is forced by saidliquid to move said feed valve to open position.

2. The feeder recited in claim 1 wherein said pan is an elongated memberhaving sides and an open top,

said rocker means is disposed nearer one end than the other,

a counterweight on said pan on the end nearest said rocker whereby saidpan is urged to horizontal posi tion when said trough is empty,

said pan having a greater volume capacity on the side of said rockerremote from said counterweight than the volume of said pan on the sideof said rocker adjacent said counterweight.

3. The feeder recited in claim 1 wherein said means to direct liquidinto engagement with said paddle comprises a trough formed in a lowerpart of said feeder,

said trough having upwardly extending sides,

said paddle extending from one side of said trough to the other andsaid-paddle being movable by said water in said trough when said pan isoverbalanced whereby said valve is opened.

4.'The feeder recited in claim 1 wherein said valve extends along saidhopper along an opening having a portion thereof disposed vertically andanother part disposed horizontally.

5. The feeder recited inclaim 1 wherein a spring is attached to saidvalve urging said valve to closed position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERTB. REEVES, Primary ExaminerH. S. LANE, Assistant Examiner

